Revision as of 18:05, 2 March 2013

Cherrim changing between forms in the anime

Pokémon with official major variations between individuals are known as alternate forms. These variations all have differing sprites in the games and are recognized by the "forms" section of the Pokédex.

Every official different form has a name given by the Pokédex, starting in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver. In Generations II-IV, whichever sprite is seen first will be the one displayed in the Pokédex by default; i.e., a player who encountered a West Sea Shellos would have its sprite appear in the Pokédex by default, while one who encountered an East Sea Shellos first would have its sprite appear. In Generation V, the sprite displayed in the Pokédex can be changed upon reaching Mistralton City, even to a Shiny sprite, if it has been encountered.

At times, these differences are purely cosmetic, and have no bearing on the difference in the Pokémon's stats from another; however, several Pokémon not only differ in stats, but also type, depending on their form. Among these are several legendary Pokémon, whose unique forms can be changed between at will, and are usually spelled as Formes.

Deoxys

Deoxys, the final Pokémon in the National Pokédex as of Generation III, was the first known Pokémon whose base stats and move compatibility differed, as well as its appearance, depending on its form. First introduced in Destiny Deoxys, Deoxys was revealed to have three alternating forms, while a fourth was added later, with the release of Pokémon Emerald. Like its base stats, its Pokéathlon performance varies depending on its form.

Deoxys's Normal Forme is the default form it takes, as well as the form it appears in in Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire. In this form, its stats are more balanced, though it is notably far more offensive than it is defensive.

It is in this form that Deoxys will be found in the wild on Birth Island, though it will transform after it has been captured, depending on its Generation III game version.

The Attack Forme is the appearance that Deoxys takes on in Pokémon FireRed, and it learns noticeably more powerful moves while in this form. Its Attack and Special Attack stats have been maxed out, making it the most powerful of all Pokémon in both aspects, while its Speed remains the same as its default form. Its defensive stats, however, take a harsh blow, lowering so much that it is only more powerful in Defense than seven Pokémon (tied with three others), and is tied for last place in Special Defense with five others, including Magikarp.

In Pokémon LeafGreen, the counterpart version to FireRed, Deoxys takes on a counterpart form to the Attack Forme, the Defense Forme. Whereas the Attack Forme had incredible offensive power (and incredibly weak defensive capabilities), Defense Forme inverts this somewhat, having mediocre offensive power (and a lower Speed stat) and heightened Defense and Special Defense. This form of Deoxys learns moves more attuned to attrition than to elimination, raising its already high defenses to protect against opponents' moves rather than attack them before they can attack.

By far the quickest of all Pokémon, Deoxys in its Speed Forme learns many moves that can guarantee that it will strike before any other Pokémon can. Though it can still be outsped by a Pokémon with Speed Boost, Speed Forme Deoxys takes the uneven nature of the stats of Deoxys's other forms and balances them out, keeping it from hitting too hard, but at the same time, preventing it from being hit too hard itself.

Burmy and Wormadam

Both Burmy and its female evolution, Wormadam, have three separate forms, being the first Pokémon whose evolution depends on a specific form. Like others, Burmy can change form freely, depending on where it last participated in a battle actively (Exp. Share maintains a Burmy's form if it does not leave the Poké Ball); however, Wormadam's form is permanent.

If a Burmy last battled in a grassy outside area, hatched from an Egg whose Wormadam parent was in the Plant Cloak, or hatched from an Egg that had Mothim and Ditto as parents, it will be in its basic state, the Plant Cloak. This form of Burmy is covered in leaves and twigs. If a female, it will evolve into Wormadam in its Plant Cloak, which is a Bug/Grass Pokémon.

If a Burmy last battled on a beach or in a cave, or hatched from an Egg whose Wormadam parent was in the Sandy Cloak, it will be in the Sandy Cloak. This form of Burmy is covered in sand and rocks. If a female, it will evolve into Wormadam in its Sandy Cloak, which is a Bug/Ground Pokémon.

If a Burmy last battled inside of a building, or hatched from an Egg whose Wormadam parent was in the Trash Cloak, it will be in the Trash Cloak. This form of Burmy is covered in pink insulation. If a female, it will evolve into Wormadam in its Trash Cloak, which is a Bug/Steel Pokémon.

A Wormadam's stats and move compatibility vary with her form, in addition to type and appearance. The cloak a male Burmy takes on before evolution makes no difference, as it sheds it upon evolution into Mothim.

Cherrim

Like Castform, Cherrim changes its appearance depending on the weather, though not with all kinds. It will be in its Sunshine Form in intense sunlight and its Overcast Form in any other weather. Due to its Ability, its Attack and Special Defense will also increase in its Sunshine Form. Unlike Castform, its type does not change.

Shellos and Gastrodon

Another Sinnoh-native evolution family, Shellos and Gastrodon also have a difference, depending on, this time, whether the Pokémon in question was caught east or west of Mt. Coronet. Like others before, neither form can change to the other, but unlike other multiple-form Pokémon, the appearance of the mother is the determinant to the appearance of the hatched Pokémon.

Both West Sea Shellos and Gastrodon take on a pink appearance, while their East Sea cousins take on a blue hue. There is also a slight difference in bodily appearance depending on the form.

Rotom

In August 2008, shortly before the Japanese release of Pokémon Platinum, five silhouetted Pokémon were shown, with a statement that indicated that these Pokémon would be in the game. Days before the game's release, it was revealed that these Pokémon were alternate forms of Rotom. These new forms made their debut in Pokémon Platinum, and have been included in every main series game since.

Until Generation V, all forms of Rotom were Electric/Ghost-type. All alternate forms have the same base stat total, which is higher than that of normal Rotom (except normal Rotom has a higher base stat in speed).

Giratina

Giratina, much like Deoxys had been earlier, was announced to have an alternate form in the then-upcoming Giratina and the Sky Warrior in February, 2008. One of the two forms is the familiar form to players of Pokémon Diamond and Pearl, designated as Altered Forme Giratina, while the other is a more serpentine form that was not previously known, the Origin Forme, which debuted in Pokémon Platinum, and has been included in every main series game since.

The Origin Forme is known as Giratina's natural form, which it appears in in its home of the Reverse World (in the anime) and Distortion World (in the games). If it travels to the Pokémon world, it assumes its Altered Forme. Both Formes appear in Pokémon Platinum, where Giratina is captured in the Distortion World in its more offense-oriented Origin Forme, and will revert to the defensive Altered Forme outside of this area unless it holds the Griseous Orb.

Shaymin

As with Giratina, an alternate form of the event Pokémon Shaymin was announced to appear in Giratina and the Sky Warrior, and is, in fact, the titular sky warrior. This new Sky Forme of Shaymin, with the previously-known form now called the Land Forme, has a completely altered appearance and, rather than being a pure-Grass-type, is now Grass/Flying. The Sky Forme made its debut in Pokémon Platinum, and has been included in every main series game since.

Like Giratina and Deoxys's transformations are activated by an external source, Shaymin's is activated by contact with a Gracidea, whose bouquets look almost like a sleeping Shaymin. Upon changing forms, Shaymin also changes its cry.

A Shaymin in its Sky Forme will revert to its Land Forme if frozen or during night.

Basculin

Similar to Shellos and Gastrodon, Basculin can appear in two different forms—the Red-Striped Form and the Blue-Striped Form. The Red Stripe form sports a red stripe, with wide eyes and spiky fins, while the other has a blue stripe, with squinted eyes and smooth fins. Its color depends on the version it is found in, with the Red-Striped Form appearing in Black and the Blue-Striped Form appearing in White. However, rare instances of the other color can be found in the game by surfing on or fishing in swirling water.

Wild Red-Striped Basculin have a 5% chance of holding a DeepSeaTooth while wild Blue-Striped Basculin have a 5% chance of holding a DeepSeaScale.

Darmanitan

If Darmanitan has Zen Mode as its Ability, it changes into Zen Mode when its HP drops to below half. Darmanitan in Zen Mode is blue in color, has Psychic as a secondary type, inverts its Attack and Special Attack from Standard Mode Darmanitan, and has boosted defenses and lowered Speed.

Deerling and Sawsbuck

Deerling changes its appearance depending on the season, each of which lasts a month in real time. During spring, its coat will be pink; during summer, green; during autumn, orange; and during winter, brown.

Sawsbuck, Deerling's evolved form, also differs with the season. It has flowers in its antlers during spring; a full set of leaves in its antlers, a lack of fur at its neck and legs, and the addition of a mane and upright tail during summer; brown and wilting leaves during autumn; and white antlers along with sections of thicker, white fur during winter.

In both instances, the Pokémon will change forms when the season changes (when the players exits a cave or building) while it is in the party.

Deerling and Sawsbuck belonging to NPCs will match the season the NPC is battled in, with the exception of the Battle Subway and the Pokémon World Tournament, where they are always in Spring Form.

Kami trio

The kami trio, Tornadus, Thundurus, and Landorus, have alternate forms known as their Therian Formes, which are obtainable in the Pokémon Dream Radar and transferable to Pokémon Black and White 2. Their original forms are known as their Incarnate Formes. If the Therian Formes are captured through the Pokémon Dream Radar and changed to their Incarnate Formes using the Reveal Glass, they will have their Hidden Abilities: Defiant instead of Prankster for Tornadus and Thundurus, and Sheer Force instead of Sand Force for Landorus. In their Therian Formes, they will always have the same Abilities regardless of how they were obtained; Tornadus will have the AbilityRegenerator, Thundurus will have the Ability Volt Absorb, and Landorus will have the Ability Intimidate. The kami trio change their cries upon changing forms. The Therian Formes of the kami trio are not included in the original Pokémon Black and White. While in their Therian Formes, they cannot be traded.

In the games, Kyurem changes its form through the use of the DNA Splicers, which fuses it with Zekrom or Reshiram. The combination retains Kyurem's Poké Ball and held item, but assigns Zekrom's Fusion Bolt and Teravolt to Black Kyurem, or Reshiram's Fusion Flare and Turboblaze to White Kyurem. This fusion is reversible, with Zekrom or Reshiram still having the item they were holding before being fused, if any. Kyurem has a different cry in each of its forms, with Black Kyurem's cry being an alteration of Zekrom's cry and White Kyurem's cry being an alteration of Reshiram's cry. Both cries have Kyurem's cry in them as well.

In the anime, these forms are featured in the fifteenthPokémon movie, in which Kyurem is said to change forms when lent the power of Reshiram or Zekrom.

Keldeo

Keldeo has a new form in Pokémon Black and White 2, the Resolute Form; its original form is called the Ordinary Form. Keldeo changes forms in an event in the Pledge Grove. To remain in its Resolute Form, it must have Secret Sword as one of its moves. To revert back to its Ordinary Form, Secret Sword must be forgotten.